Utility vehicle

ABSTRACT

A utility vehicle is provided with a seat frame disposed below a seat for a crew and supporting the seat, the utility vehicle includes: 
     a seatbelt apparatus configured to hold the crew sitting on the seat; in which 
     the seat frame includes a projection projecting outward in a vehicle width direction from the seat and covering a top of a fuel tank, 
     the seatbelt apparatus includes a retractor supporting an end of webbing so as to freely wind the webbing, and the retractor is attached to the projection.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a utility vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

As disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,994,388, a utility vehicle including a seat in a bench shape has conventionally been provided with a lap belt configured to hold knees of a crew as a seatbelt apparatus configured to hold a crew sitting on the seat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a case where the seatbelt apparatus includes a retractor supporting an end of webbing so as to freely wind the webbing, the retractor is typically assumed to be attached to a hip guard member laterally guarding a crew sitting on a seat. In this case, the retractor and the body of the crew guarded by the hip guard member interfere with each other to deteriorate riding comfort of the crew.

In view of this, it is an object of the present invention to provide a utility vehicle that prevents interference between the retractor and a crew sitting on the seat and improves riding comfort of the crew.

In order to achieve the object mentioned above, the present invention provides a utility vehicle provided with a seat frame disposed below a seat for a crew and supporting the seat, the utility vehicle including:

-   -   a seatbelt apparatus configured to hold the crew sitting on the         seat; in which     -   the seat frame includes a projection projecting outward in a         vehicle width direction from the seat and covering a top of a         fuel tank,     -   the seatbelt apparatus includes a retractor supporting an end of         webbing so as to freely wind the webbing, and the retractor is         attached to the projection.

In this configuration, the retractor is attached to the projection projecting outward in the vehicle width direction from the seat. This configuration prevents interference between the retractor and the crew sitting on the seat to improve riding comfort of the crew.

The utility vehicle according to the present invention is preferred to further include any of the following configurations.

-   -   (1) The retractor includes a webbing support located inside in         the vehicle width direction with respect to an end surface in         the vehicle width direction of the projection.     -   (2) The utility vehicle further includes:     -   a hip guard member provided adjacent to the seat and guarding         the crew sitting on the seat from outside in the vehicle width         direction; in which     -   the retractor projects outward in the vehicle width direction         from the hip guard member.     -   (3) In the configuration (2),     -   the retractor and the hip guard member each have an inner end         surface in the vehicle width direction, and the inner end         surfaces in the vehicle width direction are flush with each         other and are located outside in the vehicle width direction         with respect to an end surface in the vehicle width direction of         the seat in a top view.     -   (4) The seat has a bench shape,     -   the seat has a left portion serving as a seating area for a         driver,     -   the seat is provided with a hand brake that is located outside         to the left in the vehicle width direction,     -   the retractor of the seatbelt apparatus for the driver is         attached to the seat frame, and     -   the retractor for the driver is located behind the hand brake.

In the configuration (1), the webbing support of the retractor is located inside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the end surface in the vehicle width direction of the projection to restrain collision between the webbing support and foreign matter outside the vehicle.

In the configuration (2), the retractor projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the hip guard member. This configuration prevents interference between the retractor and the hip of the crew held by the hip guard member to improve riding comfort of the crew.

In the configuration (3), the inner end surface in the vehicle width direction of the retractor and the inner end surface in the vehicle width direction of the hip guard member are flush with each other and are located outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the end surface in the vehicle width direction of the seat in a top view, to more reliably prevent interference between the retractor and the crew sitting on the seat.

In the configuration (4), the retractor is located behind the hand brake in the seat side area where the hand brake is located outside in the vehicle width direction of the seat, to prevent interference between the retractor and the driver who manipulates the hand brake.

The present invention thus provides a utility vehicle that prevents interference between the retractor and a crew sitting on a seat and improves riding comfort of the crew.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view of the utility vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the utility vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the utility vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a seat and the periphery thereof;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the seat and the periphery thereof;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a retractor and the periphery thereof of a seatbelt apparatus for a driver; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a retractor and the periphery thereof of a seatbelt apparatus for a passenger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Vehicle Entire Structure

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a utility vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Assume that the concept of directions according to the present embodiment matches the concept of directions viewed from a driver of the utility vehicle. FIG. 2 is a right side view of the utility vehicle shown in FIG. 1, whereas FIG. 3 is a left side view of the utility vehicle shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a top view of the utility vehicle shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a utility vehicle 1 includes a pair of right and left front wheels 2 at a vehicle front portion, a pair of right and left rear wheels 3 at a vehicle rear portion, and a riding space (cabin) 4 between the front wheels 2 and the rear wheels 3. The riding space 4 is surrounded with a ROPS 5. The ROPS is an abbreviation for a rollover protective structure. The ROPS 5 configures part of a chassis frame, and includes a pair of right and left front vertical members 5 a, a pair of right and left rear vertical members 5 b, a front lateral member 5 c coupling the front vertical members 5 a and extending in the vehicle width direction, a rear lateral member 5 d coupling the rear vertical members 5 b and extending in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of right and left upper end beam members 5 e coupling the front lateral member 5 c and the rear lateral member 5 d and extending in the anteroposterior direction.

The riding space 4 is provided therebehind with a cargo bed 61, and is provided thereahead with a bonnet 62. The cargo bed 61 is provided, at its front end, with a screen 63 partitioning between the riding space 4 and the cargo bed 61. The riding space 4 accommodates a bench type seat 7. The seat 7 has a left seating area S1 serving as a driver's seat. The seating area S1 is provided thereahead with an operation unit including a steering wheel 10 and the like.

[Structure of Seat and the Periphery Thereof]

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the seat 7 and the periphery thereof, and FIG. 6 is a front view of the seat 7 and the periphery thereof. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the seat 7 includes a seat bottom 71 in a rectangular shape extending in the vehicle width direction (right-left direction), and a backrest 72 in a rectangular shape extending in the right-left direction. The bench type seat 7 accommodates two persons, and has the left seating area S1 for the driver and a right seating area S2 for a passenger. The seating area S1 and the seating area S2 are provided with a seatbelt apparatus 8 for the driver and a seatbelt apparatus 9 for the passenger, respectively.

The seatbelt apparatus 8 for the driver includes a retractor 81 supporting a first end of webbing (not shown) so as to freely wind the webbing, and a buckle 82 configured to detachably couple a tongue plate (not shown) attached to a second end of the webbing. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the retractor 81 and the periphery thereof of the seatbelt apparatus 8 for the driver.

The seatbelt apparatus 9 for the passenger similarly includes a retractor 91 supporting a first end of webbing (not shown) so as to freely wind the webbing, and a buckle 92 configured to detachably couple a tongue plate (not shown) attached to a second end of the webbing. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the retractor 91 and the periphery thereof of the seatbelt apparatus 9 for the passenger.

The buckle 82 and the buckle 92 are aligned in the right-left direction, are attached to a rear end substantially at the center in the right-left direction of the seat bottom 71, and project upward from the seat bottom 71. As shown in FIG. 6, the buckles 82 and 92 have upper ends located below the center in the vertical direction of the backrest 72.

The seat bottom 71 is provided therebelow with a seat frame 51 supporting the seat bottom 71. The seat frame 51 is a columnar pipe in an annular rectangular shape extending in the right-left direction. The seat bottom 71 is attached to the seat frame 51. The seat frame 51 includes a projection 51 a projecting rightward and outward from the seat bottom 71. In other words, the projection 51 a is located outside to the right with respect to the right end of the seat bottom 71. As shown in FIG. 6, the projection 51 a is provided therebelow with a fuel tank 52. The projection 51 a covers the top of the fuel tank 52 to protect the fuel tank 52 from impact from upward.

The seat 7 is provided, near and outside the left and right ends, with hip guard members 53 and 54, respectively. The hip guard members 53 and 54 guard crews sitting on the seat 7 from outside in the right-left direction. The hip guard member 53 is provided for the driver, and has an upper end 53 a that is coupled to a corresponding one of the rear vertical members 5 b at a position close to the upper end of the backrest 72 in a side view, as shown in FIG. 3. The hip guard member 53 has a curved portion 53 b that curvedly extends downward and forward from the upper end 53 a, crosses the upper end of the buckle 82, and curves from the front to the rear near the upper end of the seat bottom 71 in a side view. The hip guard member 53 extends backward from the curved portion 53 b along the upper end of the seat bottom 71 and is coupled to the rear vertical member 5 b.

The hip guard member 54 is provided for the passenger, and has an upper end 54 a that is coupled to the remaining one of the rear vertical members 5 b at a position close to the upper end of the backrest 72 in a side view, as shown in FIG. 2. The hip guard member 54 has a curved portion 54 b that curvedly extends downward and forward from the upper end 54 a, crosses the upper end of the buckle 92, and curves from the front to the rear near the upper end of the seat bottom 71 in a side view. The hip guard member 54 extends backward from the curved portion 54 b along the upper end of the seat bottom 71 and is coupled to the rear vertical member 5 b.

As shown in FIG. 4, the retractor 81 is attached to the rear left end of the seat frame 51 and is located inside to the right with respect to the left end surface of the hip guard member 53. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the retractor 81 crosses a portion extending backward from the curved portion 53 b of the hip guard member 53 in a side view.

As shown in FIG. 4, the retractor 91 projects rightward and outward from the hip guard member 54. The left end surface of the retractor 91 and the left end surface of the hip guard member 54 are flush with each other in a top view. The left end surface of the retractor 91 and the left end surface of the hip guard member 54 are located outside to the right with respect to the right end surface of the seat bottom 71 of the seat 7. The seat bottom 71 and the retractor 91 are thus provided therebetween with a clearance D having a predetermined length in the right-left direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the retractor 91 is located below a portion extending backward from the curved portion 54 b of the hip guard member 54.

The retractor 91 is attached to the rear end of the projection 51 a of the seat frame 51. The retractor 91 supporting the first end of the webbing so as to freely wind the webbing has a webbing support 91 a that is located inside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the right end surface of the projection 51 a. The right end surface of the retractor 91 is substantially flush with the right end surface of the projection 51 a.

There is provided a hand brake 11 that is located outside to the left with respect to the seat bottom 71 of the seat 7. The retractor 81 is located behind the hand brake 11. The retractor 81 and the hand brake 11 are located substantially at an identical position in the right-left direction.

The utility vehicle thus configured achieves the following effects.

(1) The retractor 91 is attached to the projection 51 a of the seat frame 51. This configuration prevents interference between the retractor 91 and the crew sitting on the seat 7 to improve riding comfort of the crew.

(2) The webbing support 91 a of the retractor 91 is located inside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the end surface in the vehicle width direction of the projection 51 a of the seat frame 51 to restrain collision between the webbing support 91 a and foreign matter outside the vehicle.

(3) The retractor 91 projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the hip guard member 54. This configuration prevents interference between the retractor 91 and the hip of the crew held by the hip guard member 54 to improve riding comfort of the crew.

(4) The inner end surface in the vehicle width direction of the retractor 91 and the inner end surface in the vehicle width direction of the hip guard member 54 are flush with each other and are located outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the end surface in the vehicle width direction of the seat bottom 71 of the seat 7 in a top view. The clearance D is thus provided between the end surface in the vehicle width direction of the seat bottom 71 of the seat 7 and the inner end surfaces in the vehicle width direction of the retractor 91 and the hip guard member 54. This configuration more reliably prevents interference between the retractor 91 and the crew sitting on the seat 7.

(5) The retractor 81 is located behind the hand brake 11 in the seat side area where the hand brake 11 is located outside in the vehicle width direction of the seat 7, to prevent interference between the retractor 81 and the driver who manipulates the hand brake 11.

(6) The retractors 81 and 91 are attached to the seat frame 51 whereas the buckles 82 and 92 are attached to the rear end substantially at the center in the right-left direction of the seat bottom 71. This configuration allows the webbing to maintain its fixing function as well as prevents the webbing from having a length beyond necessity. This configuration further achieves reduction in material cost for the webbing as well as reduction in size of the retractors 81 and 91.

Each of the retractors 81 and 91 according to the embodiment described above is applicable to a three-point seatbelt apparatus as well as to a two-point seatbelt apparatus.

The seat frame 51 according to the above embodiment is not provided with any projection projecting leftward and outward from the driver's seating area of the seat 7. There is optionally provided a projection projecting leftward and outward from the seat 7, in which case the retractor 81 for the driver may be attached to the projection.

The seat 7 according to the above embodiment has the bench shape. The seat 7 alternatively has a box shape.

The utility vehicle 1 according to the above embodiment includes the seat 7 configuring a single seat row. The utility vehicle 1 alternatively includes seats configuring two or more seat rows. In this case, a seat frame of the seat in a second or subsequent row optionally has a projection projecting leftward and outward from the seat as well as a projection projecting rightward and outward from the seat. Retractors for passengers may be attached to these projections.

The present invention can be modified or changed in various manners without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention recited in the following patent claims. 

1. A utility vehicle provided with a seat frame disposed below a seat for a crew and supporting the seat, the utility vehicle comprising: a seatbelt apparatus configured to hold the crew sitting on the seat; wherein the seat frame includes a projection projecting outward in a vehicle width direction from the seat and covering a top of a fuel tank, the seatbelt apparatus includes a retractor supporting an end of webbing so as to freely wind the webbing, and the retractor is attached to the projection.
 2. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the retractor includes a webbing support located inside in the vehicle width direction with respect to an end surface in the vehicle width direction of the projection.
 3. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a hip guard member provided adjacent to the seat and guarding the crew sitting on the seat from outside in the vehicle width direction; wherein the retractor projects outward in the vehicle width direction from the hip guard member.
 4. The utility vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the retractor and the hip guard member each have an inner end surface in the vehicle width direction, and the inner end surfaces in the vehicle width direction are flush with each other and are located outside in the vehicle width direction with respect to an end surface in the vehicle width direction of the seat in a top view.
 5. The utility vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the seat has a bench shape, the seat has a left portion serving as a seating area for a driver, the seat is provided with a hand brake that is located outside to the left in the vehicle width direction, the retractor of the seatbelt apparatus for the driver is attached to the seat frame, and the retractor for the driver is located behind the hand brake. 